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Gujarat Clean Development Mechanism fails to achieve goal

Gujarat tops in availing carbon credits, but has failed to control the worsening pollution

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The civil society members came down heavily on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which was agreed upon under the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) Kyoto Protocol, saying it had failed to achieve its dual objectives of reducing emissions and contributing to sustainable development.

Speaking at the inaugural session of a workshop on CDM and Carbon Markets, Gujarat Vidyapith vice-chancellor Sudarshan Iyengar gave a thumbs-down to CDM and carbon markets saying there would be little difference to global warming even if these were implemented in the ideal manner.

“Policies framed keeping in mind production and businesses can never contribute to reducing poverty or pollution. It is difficult to reduce poverty with economic development,” he said, adding that this could be achieved only if people give up consumerism and learn to live with minimum needs.

The three-day workshop was organised by Paryavaran Mitra, CDM Watch and other organisations from April 18 to 20. It was attended by 80 representatives from NGOs, academia, local authorities and concerned citizens.

Mahesh Pandya, director of Paryavaran Mitra, said that the country and Gujarat top in availing carbon credits, but have failed to control the worsening pollution.

“The problem is that the CDM projects are controlled by large business houses. The community that is supposed to benefit, is itself unaware of CDM,” he said.

In a statement, the civil society said that many CDM projects have led to adverse social and environmental impacts such as loss of livelihood, displacement of people, destruction of indigenous cultures, degradation of ecosystems and human rights violations. It said that many projects are implemented in violation of national and international laws.

The workshop identified eligibility of project types, human rights, sustainable development, public participation in the CDM process and grievance mechanism as some of the issues to be raised in the future.

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